Wire binding machine



26, 1952 A. E. CRANSTON, SR 2,608,150

WIRE BINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet l I N V EN TOR. 19285472- Cmwvsra; 50.

BY oa kq W HTTOENEYJ Aug. 26, 1952 v A. E. CRANSTON, SR 2,508,150

WIRE BINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30. 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 N 3 mljr IN V EN TOR. HLBERT E (EH/VJ TON, 5/5.

Aug. 26, 1952 A. E. CRANSTON, SR 2,608,150

WIRE BINDING MACHINE 7 Filed Nov. 30, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. HLEE'RT E. C/M/vsm/v, 5R.

g- 5 A. E. CRANSTON, SR 08,150

WIRE BINDING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 50, 1946 2E 6 Vi 2? as 5/ '23 32 L -55 24 1. ml.

63 el W 3/ INVENTOR.

63 52 KO, 141865) E. Cid/V5704; 5/2

26, 1952 A. E. CRANSTON, SR 2,608,150

WIRE BINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 H [248 iii 75 7A 72 lin umnmu Ill BY mum uu WQWI III iI-IllllllllllllllII IIQJIIIII llllll ,qTToENEYA Aug. 26, 1952 A. E. CRANSTON, SR

WIRE BINDING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Nov. 50. 1946 A. E. CRANSTON, SR

Aug 26, 1952 WIRE BINDING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 30, 1946 INVENTOR.

H1. BE/e-r E. CE'HNJ TON, 5/2

w w A R T 4 Aug. 26, 1952 A. E. CRANSTON, sR

WIRE BINDING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov. 50, 1946 mm Wm. mm W a 4 z 1952 A. E. CRANSTON, SR 2,608,150

' WIRE BINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 50, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 IN V EN TOR. 14455; 5 67m: row, 58.

BY Q

g- 1952 A. EICRANSTON, SR 8,

WIRE BINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR. 141.5597 .5. CEHNJTOMJR.

Aug. 26, 1952 A. E. CRANSTON, SR

WIRE BINDING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Nov. 50, 1946 VH8 W 62 R m m N mm B VS W. T M 5 v w g- 1.952 A. E. CRANSTON, SR

WIRE BINDING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Nov. 30, 1946 INVENTOR. 415587 E. Gen/v5 TON,

4 TTOENEYJ Ring Mofor 14 Sheets-Sheet l4 A. E. cRANsToN, SR

WIRE BINDING MACHINE Aug. 26, 1952 Filed Nov. 30. 1946 INVENTOR. ALBERT Ev C/M/VSTO/V 5R B MM! M ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 26, .1952

UNITED STATES oFFicE 27 Claims. 1

This invention relates to bundle, box and package binding machines, and it has reference more particularly to machines of that kind characterized by a wire reeving carrier, or ring, that is caused to revolve about :a bundle and to thereby draw a wire strand from a source of wire supply and to lay it, under tension, about the bundle and to bringprimary and secondary end portions of the band into overlapped relationship; the overlapped ends then being joined in a twisted knot and the wire strand cut adjacent the knot to free the bound bundle for removal from the machine.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved machine of the character above stated, wherein the wire'laying ring, or carrier, rotates in the same direction for each successive binding operation, and with each cycle of operations, trains the wire strand, while held at its primary end in a stationary gripper, tightly about the package or bundle, and in doing this, lays both the primary and secondary end portions of. the band in a slotted gear which, at the end of the band laying operation, is rotated to twist the band ends together in a fiat knot, then the strand is cut adjacent the knot to free the bound bundle for removal from the machine, and finally, as a principal feature of this invention, the end of the strand, as then extended from the supply, is mechanically applied within the stationary gripper and the various associated parts reset in readiness for the next binding operation.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a wire binding machine of the character above stated wherein various devices thereof operate automatically, after an initial starting operation, to complete the wire band laying operation, the joining of the band ends, and the proper cutting of the strand to release the bound bundle for removal from the machine and wherein, after removal of the bound package, other parts are set in motion to apply that cut end of the strand, which with the cutting of the strand becomes the primary end, to the stationary gripper in readiness for the next binding operation.

Another object or" the invention is to provide a bundle kicker for insuring the release of the band from the twister gear slot u-pon completion of the binding operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide gripper and cutter members of novel kind that coaot for cutting the ends of the 'Wire at both sides of the knot so as to leave no extended ends to cause injury. Furthermore, to provide a oneway, rotary carrier for laying, or training the binding strand about the bundles, and novel means for ire-applying the end of the wire strand to the primary gripper without shifting the gripper.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a machine of the character above stated for accomplishing the above-stated objects which, by reason of the manner of applying the binding wire or strand under tension, eliminate the usual requirement of a clamping means for holding the bundle properly in place while the strand of wire is being trained thereabout.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the details of construction of the various parts of the machine, in their operative combinations and in the sequence of performing their various operations, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Fig. 1 is an elevation of the present machine, showing that side into which bundles are de- 'livered for binding and at which the operator normally would stand in feeding and controlling the machine;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the machine as seen from the bundle discharge side.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the machine, taken substantially on line 3-3 in Fig. '1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the gearing for rotating the knot twister gear and by which various other mechanisms are controlled and.

actuated.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, longitudinal section of the twister gear, and its supporting bearings.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the twister gear taken on the line *6- 6 in Fig. -5.

Fig. '7 is a plan view, substantially on line '!---1 in Fig. 1, of the bundle kick-out mechanism, and the latch device for the twister gear drive shaft.

Fig. 8 isan elevation of the parts shown in Fig. '7, as seen from the feeding side of the machine.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevation of a part of the band laying ring and bundle guide frame, showing also the wire reeving guide, the cam runner, as fixed to the ring, and the guide frame locking bolts that are actuated by the cam runner.

Fig. 9a is an enlarged, axial section of one of the tubu-alr strand reeving guides as carried on the band laying ring.

Fig. '10 is a top view of the parts shown in Fig. 9, some being in section for better understanding.

Fig. 11 is a view taken on line ll--ll in Fig. 1,

showing, in elevation, the relationship of the wire grippers and their actuating means; the devices for re-applying the end of the wire strand to the primary gripper after each binding operation, and the gearing for driving these parts.

Fig. 12 is an elevation of the mechanisms for re-applying the end of the wire strand to the primary gripper, taken on the line l2- l2 in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section taken on line [3-13 in Fig. 11.

Fig. 130. is an elevation of a part of the secondary, or upper gripper.

Fig. 13b is a horizontal section taken on line I3b-l3b in Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is an elevation of a part of the primary or lower gripper.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged section taken on line ll5 inFig. 1.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged elevation of the gripper mechanism and twister gear as seen from the left-hand side in Fig. 1.

Fig. 17 is a horizontal section on line l'll l in Fig. 16, showing the gripper jaws open.

Fig. 170. is a similar view showing the gripper as shifted out of alinement with the twister gear and the jaws closed.

Fig. 18 is an elevation of the strand replacing gripper and its releasing latch.

Fig. 19 is a section on line l8-l9 in Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is an elevation of the ring stopping switch and its operating means.

Fig. 21 is a horizontal section on line 2l-2| in Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a section on line 22-22 in Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a section on line 2323 in Fig. 21.

Figs. 24 to 28 are views diagramatically illustrating successive steps in the wire band training and knotting operations.

Figs 29 to 33 are views diagrammatically showing gripper movements during the wire cutting and replacing operations.

Fig. 34 is a wiring diagram for the electrical equipment in the machine.

' Referring more in detail to the drawings- The various driving motors, electrical devices, switches and other operating parts of the present machine are mounted in or upon an open base frame structure that, as seen 'best in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is of rectangular, table-like form and comprises vertical corner posts or beams I that are rigidly and solidly joined at their lower ends, across the ends and sides of the frame, by bars 2, and at their upper ends, are joined across the ends of the frame by bars 4 and are joined lengthwise of the frame by bars 5.

Erected within the base frame, is a yoke, or arch frame designated generally by reference character 6. This comprises a strong flat plate that is fixed vertically and rigidly in'a plane lengthwise of the baseframe. The upper end portion of the plate extends substantially above the base frame and is formed with a circular opening I of substantial diameter, adjacent which the wire strand laying ring 8 is supported. The ring 8, which has an outside diameter just slightly less than that of opening'l, is mounted coaxially of the opening. 1

As shownbest in Figs. 2 and 3, the ring 8 comprises a fiat, annular ring body portion, to one side of which a cylindrical flange 8 is concentrically secured. The ring is revolubly supported by means of four equally spaced circumferentially grooved rollers ID that are rotatably mounted on the yoke by supporting bolts or pivots l I. Each roller l0 receives therein the outer, peripheral edge of the ring body, thus to support and guide the ring as it is rotatably driven for the band laying operation.

The ring 8 is rotated, under control of various devices presently described, by means of an electric motor l2 that applies its power through a suitable reduction gear mechanism, designated in Fig. 2 at [3, and a pair of V-belts I4-l4 that extend about the cylindrical flange 8f of the ring 8 and about a V-belt driving pulley wheel I 5 that is fixed on the power output shaft 15' of the reduction gear mechanism, as observed in Fig. 2.

The motor 12 is here shown as being fixedly mounted on a base frame I 6 that is supported at one end by a horizontal hinge shaft I! carried in bearings l8 fixed in the base frame struc ture; the weight of the motor being partially sustained by the belts and thus the belts are maintained under adequate tension for operation of the ring and for preventing its slipping on the ring flange 8f.

The wire strand W, from which the bundle securing bands are formed, extends to the machine from a source of supply (not shown) over suitable tensioning means such as designated at 20 in Fig. 2, thence over a grooved wheel 2 I, rotatably mounted on a frame 22 extended from one end of the base frame, thence downwardly and about a tensioning wheel 23, thence upwardly and over another grooved wheel 24 mounted on the frame 22, and thence to the ring where it is threaded through wire reeving means from which it passes to the gripper mechanism.

The wheel 23 is rotatably mounted on a weighted frame 25 that has free up and down travel on vertical guide rods 2626 fixed in the frame 22, and the weight of these parts operates automatically to take up slack and maintain tension on the strand at all times, particularly while it is being trained about a bundle by the rotating ring.

It is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 10 that the ring 8 is equipped at opposite sides with alined and outwardly extending brackets 28 and 29, formed with bearing portions in which short, tubular wire guides 30 and 3| are rotatably mounted in axial alinement. At their outer ends, these guides are equipped respectively with wire carrying sheaves 32 and 32, as is best shown in Fig. 10.

The wire strand W, as it comes from the supply, is led oif from the wheel 24 and threaded through the axially alined guide tubes, entering from the discharge side of the ring as shown in Fig. 10, and it is guided to and from these tubes as the wheel rotates, by the sheaves 32 and 32, over which it passes under tension. In passing from one tube to the other, the strand of wire passed directly through a small hole 35 in the inner edge portion of the ring 8, and from the sheave 32, the strand is extended, in a plane that is substantially parallel to the ring, across the top side of the area on which the bundle would be located for binding, and is applied at its end to a gripper located at one side of the bundle and referred to as the primary gripper, and presently to be described, which holds it secure for the binding operation. This initial threading of the wire strand is shown in Fig. 24.

Contained within the ring 8 is a bundle guide frame providing a rectangular opening and guicleway through which the bundles to be bound are passed. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this frame comprises opposite side plates 4| and 42, a top plate 43 and a bottom structure (Figs. v3 and that is made upof a plurality of conveyor rolls 44 supported in parallel relationship between and by parallel rails 45 and 45. These rails are joined by cross bars 46 and also are solidly fixed to the side plates of the frame by tie straps 41, as shown in Fig. 3. These rigidly joinedparts define a passageway of substantial size within which the bundles are partially contained and properly held While being bound and through which frame they are advanced from the machine after the wire band or bands have been applied thereto.

This bundle guide frame is supported by and within the ring 8 by means of four circumferentially grooved rollers 48 fixed to the outside of the frame wall members by flanges 49; it being herein shown that the flanges are welded to the wall members and the grooved rollers are revolubly mounted thereon by bolts 50 and receive the inner peripheral edge of the ring 8 in the roller grooves.

This frame is held properly in place and against rotation with the ring by means of three releasable locking bolts, seen in Fig. 1, and shown more in detail in Fig. 9, wherein it is noted that brackets 52 are fixed to the outside faces of the wall plates 4|, t2 and 43 of the frame, and latch bolts 53 are alined with these brackets and are reciprocatively contained in bearing sleeves 54 that are fixed to the yoke 6 at the top and opposite sides of the opening 1. The inner end of each bolt is adapted to seat in a socket 55 in the corresponding bracket, and springs 55 are attached to the outer ends of the bolts and to the yoke frame plate to yieldingly seat the bolts in their respective sockets. It will be understood that with-one or more of these bolts thus seated, the package guide frame will be held against any possible turning. However, in the present arrangement of parts, when the ring 8 is rotated for the purpose of training the wire about a bundle, the Wire as extended between the tubular guides 30 and 3|, must successively pass these several bolts, and it becomes necessary that the bolts be temporarily withdrawn fromthe bracket sockets for this passage of the strand. In Fig. 15, at the top of the ring, I have shown the bolt 53 withdrawn for this purpose.

Therefore, to accomplish this withdrawal of the bolts in proper timing, I have. affixed a cam runner, or rail to the front side of ring 8, as seen in Figs. 1 and 9, and have attached to the yoke 6, in association with each .bolt, a bolt retracting lever 51. Each lever is pivoted at its outer end on the yoke by a pivot stud 62 and is epuipped at its inner end with a cam roller'63. Also, each lever 6| is pivotally connected by -a link 64 with the outer end portion of the corresponding bolt 53. The cam rollers 63 are so located that they will be engaged by the cam runner 50 as the ring 8 rotates, and by this contact, their mounting levers will be actuated outwardly, thus to shift the bolts 53 outwardly from the bracket sockets and provide clearance between the inner ends of the bolts and thecorresponding brackets for the passing of the wire strand. The relationship of the cam runner 60 to the ring 8 and place of passage of the wire strand therethrough is such that the bolts will be held withdrawn while the wire strand is carried through the open space between the retracted bolt and the bracket in which it normally seats.

In addition to the bundle conveyor rolls 44 and bundle guide frame shown in Figs. 3 and 15, it is further shown therein that a plurality of conveyor rolls -10 .aremounted in the top p rtion of the base frame between parallel.supporting .rails H and H .-for the conveyance thereon of bundles into position (for binding. These rolls 10 are .alined with the rolls and are at the same level. However, an open space 12 is provided between the two sets of rolls for the training of the wire strandas payed out from the ring guide, about the'bundle. This openspace is shown in Figs.

Bram-1115; t I

It-is shown also in Figs. 3. and 1,5 that; a plate 15 is fixed vertically upon-the base frame'in alinement with the side wall plate-1M of the bundle ,guide .frame carried by the ring, and'that there also .is an openspace 'ltbetweentheyerti cal edges of these vertical plates.

For its binding operation, each bundle is brought into position upon the conveyor rolls 10 andM'and disposed against the aligned vertical plates 4| and 15 and across the open spaces 12 and 15. For better understanding of this position, a package 11 has been indicated in dotted lines in Figs..1, 2 and 15. For purpose of later explanation, the plane in which the wire strand is laid about the bundle will be hereinafter referred toas the binding plane or plane of the band, and it will .be understood that this is the vertical plane that is substantially parallel to the :ring Band passes through the axis of the twister gear, presently described, and centrally of the open spaces "and 16. i

The bandlaying andtying operation is acoomplished,in .part, by the useof the ring 8 and a pair of band orstrand grippers operating in conjunction with an axially slotted'twister gear. The twister gear .is well known in this art and is designated, in general, by reference character T, and is herein shown as being located in the binding plane just outside the plane of the inner surfaces of plates 4| and 15 as shown in Fig 4. In'Figs. 24 to v 28 inclusive, the relative positions of .the grippersytwister gear, ring and bundle have been diagrammatically shown. Also, in

.Figs. 29m 33, the shifting of the'grippers'has been indicated. I

The strand grippers are designated, respectivelyrand; in general, by reference characters GI and G2. The gripper Gl'is referred to asthe primary gripper and it is located closely below the twister gear and isadapted to hold the end of the wire strand W as it is trained about the package, under tension, by the ring. The gripperLGZ is herein designated as the secondary gripper and it is located closely'above the twister'gear and is adapted to-receive the secondary end of the wire band after the band has been laid about the bundle.

The twister gear T is of tubular form, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and is disposed vertically and has a longitudinal slot therein that opens to-one-side and to the ends of the gear, and into which slot the primary and secondary end portions of a band may be laid, by the strandlaying devices, in overlapped relationship.

For proper understanding of the location of thetwister gear with respect to the vertical plates 41 and 1.5, refer-'to'FigsA and 6.

:It-is shown in Figs- 4,5 and G that the twister gear T is revolubly supported-between bearing blocks ill and 82 that are fixed to the 'plates15 and respectively. It is formed about'its medial portion with a band of gear teeth 83, and it is driven b means of an idlergear '84, seen in Fig. 6, ithatis rotatable ona vertical pivot shaft 8.5'held in the'bearing block 8i. This .idler,-in

turn, is'fdriven by a relatively large gear wheel 80 that is' fixed'on-a vertical drive shaft 81 rotatably mounted in bearings 88 and 89 fixed in the frame structure at the outside of plate 15, as noted in Fig. l. The means for driving shaft 81 comprises an electric motor90 that is mounted in the frame, as seen in Fig. 4, and which operates through a train of speed reducing gear wheels 9|, 82, 93 and 94. The gear 9| is fixed'on the motor shaft and gear 94 is fixed on shaft 81. Operation of the motor is under control of starting and stop: ping switches presently to be described. To properly accomplish the knot forming operation, and to provide that the twister gear may properly receive" the wire strand as laid by the ring 8, and also to release the band after the knot is formed, the shaft 81 is definitely limited in its arc of rotation. The are of turning of gear BIi'is such as to cause the twister gear torotate through three and one-half turns only. This will effect the desired twisting of the knot and will causethe twister gear to be stopped with the slot 80 facing the bundle for the release of the band from the gear, as is common procedure in devices of this kind. I

To so limit the extent of rotation of the twister gear, I have fixed a radially directed lever arm 96 to the shaft fl'l'just above the top of the base frame, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7, and have mounted a pair of spring cushioned bolts 91 in a bracket 98 that is fixed on the frame in position to cause: the bolts to be engaged to limit the swing of the arm in its motor driven direction. Also, I have mounted a stop bolt 89 in a bracket I that is fixed in the frame at a position to limit the swing of the lever arm in its return direction and to stop the twister gear in a position with its slot facing away from the bundle. Adjustment of bolt 98 in its bracket provides for accuracy of stopping position of the twister gear; It is to be explained that for this particular operation, the motor 90 is of that kind known as a torque motor. When energized, it operates through the gear train above described to'swin'g the lever arm 96 from a position engagedagainst the stop bolt 99 to a stopped position against the bolts 91 and then operates to retainit in that latter position until energizing current is cut off from the motor. When current is cut off, the lever arm 96 is immediatelyrestored to starting position by ,'means =of a pair of coil springs IOIIOI that are attached, under tension, to a pivotal link I02 on the lever arm 96 and to a frame member, as has been shown in Fig. 4, the said frame member being outside the field of view.

Rebound of the lever arm 98 upon its striking the stop bolt 99, is prevented by means of a latch lever I03, shown in Fig. '7, that is pivoted on the frame as at I03, and which has an end notch I04 that holdingly receives the end of the lever arm 96 therein. Release of the latch lever is effected by the energization of a solenoid I05, which has its core bar I06 connected by linkage I01 with the.

latch lever. Normally, the latch is drawn toward holding position by a spring I08 attached thereto, but when the solenoid is energized, the latch is disengaged from its holding position. Energization of the solenoid is coincident with energization of the motor 90.

Referring now to the band grippers GI and G2 as shown in their preferred spaced relationship to the opposite ends of the twister gear T in Figs. 11 and 16and in Figs. 29 to 33 inclusive:

The upper gripper G2 comprises a horizontal bar I08 having a head portion H0 at one end that is formed with a vertical, slightly wedgeshap ed slot I I2, see Fig. 13, that faces away from the bundle and into which a wire strand may be laid and closely confined when seated at the base of the slot. The bar I08 is reciprocatively mounted in a bearing block II3 that is fixed to the face of plate I5 opposite that face against which the bundle is held while being bound; for example, see Figs. 3 and 4.

Closely underlying the bar I08, and held in the bearing block, is a wire cutter plate II5 which has a shearing edge IIG against which the secondary end of the wire band, extended downwardly through the slot I I2 of gripper G2, will be pulled with shearing effect, and severed when the bar I08 is shifted inwardly, as in Fig. 32, for this particular purpose. The limits of longitudinal shifting of this gripper bar are indicated by the full line and dotted line showing of the head portion in Fig. 13a. and also by the positions in which the bar is shown in Figs. 31 and 32.

The gripper GI, which is located below the twister gear, comprises a horizontally mounted bar I20, that is reciprocatively contained in the bearing block I I3, and which has a gripper head I2I at its outer end adapted, by shifting the bar to its limit in one direction, to be alined with the twister gear, as in dotted lines in Fig. 29, and when shifted to its opposite limit, to be moved out of alinement with the twister gear, as in full lines in Fig. 29. The gripper head I2I has an outer jaw of hook form, as noted best in Fig. 17, and an opposedly related and yielding jaw, I25. This latter is in the form of a slide bar and is longitudinally'movable from and toward the jaw I2I. The bar is supported in place by the housing permitting its movement from and toward the fixed jaw, and a bolt I26, fixed in the bar at its inner end, has limited movement in a stationary bar I21 that is fixed to the bearing block H3, and this bolt limits the extent to which the bar I25 may move with the jaw bar I20 when moved to its extended position, as shown in Fig. 17. The jaw bar I25 is at all times urged toward jaw I2I by a coil spring I28 that encircles the bolt and bears at its ends against the bar I21 and the adjacent end of the jaw member. The jaw parts are so related in this gripper that when the gripper bar I 20 is extended to a position to cause the mouth of the jaws to be alined with the twister gear slot, the mouth between jaw I2I and bar I25 will be held slightly open and thus provide that a wire strand maybe easily laid between the jaws. The mouth of this gripper jaw also opens away from the bundle and when the gripper is extended, the parts assume the position relative to the twister gear as shown in Fig. 1'7.

Also associated with the gripper GI and immediately above bar I20, is a wire cutter plate I29 mounted in the bearing block I I3. This plate has a sharpened edge I 28 facing the jaw or head I2I and against which a wire strand held in the jaws of this gripper will be pulled with shearing efiect when bar I20 is shifted inwardly for this purpose.

It is shown best in Fig. 11 that the jaw bars I08 and I20 are connected at their outer ends by means of links I30 and I30 with opposite ends of a rocker lever I32 that is pivoted between its ends on the plate 15 by means of a pivot bolt I33. As shown in Figs. 11 and 131), the pivot bolt I33 passes through a horizontally directed slot I34 in the rocker, and the rocker lever has an arm I35 extended therefrom and this is connected at its end to the lower end of an upwardly directed 9" link I38 which, at its upper end, is pivotally connected with one end of a camlever I31, as has been shown in Fig. 1.

The cam lever I31 is substantially horizontally disposed-and is pivotally secured at one end by bolt I38 to a bracket IES-fixed on an elevated frameor table structure designated at I40: This frame has a fixed connection atits inner end with the top edge of plate -15--and has bar supports MI at itsouter end attached to a cross rail 4 of the base frame. At its swinging end, the cam lever I31 has a roller I thereon adapted to be engaged and actuated downwardly by a cam I46 that is fixed on a horizontally supported cam shaft I41 carried in bearings I48 that are mounted on the frame I48, as best shown in Fig. 11, When the cam I46 actuates the lever I31 downwardly, the link I36 actuates the rocker lever I32 on its pivot to cause simultaneous endwise shifting of the gripper bars I 88 and I20, in opposite directions; the upper gripper G2- moving to the right, as shown in Fig 11, and the lower gripper GI moving to the left. The synchronizing ofthese movements with operations of other parts, and the reason for thusshifting the gripper jaws, will presently be explained.

A coil spring- I50- is attached under tension to link I36 and to the plate 15, as in Fig. 11,

to pull the link back to a lifted position after the cam I46 has disengaged the roller I45, and thereby dispose the grippers in the positions referred to as normal, inwhich they are shown in Figs. l1- and 29 to 31.

1 Referring now more particularly to- Figs. 1- and 2, it is seen'that the cam shaft I41 is adapted tobe rotatabl'y driven by means of a continuously energized electric motor and reduction gear mechanism, designated generally at I60, that is mounted on table I40 and whichhas a sprocket chain belt I62 operating over a sprocket wheel I63 on the motor drive shaft and over a sprocket wheel I64" that normally rotates freely on the cam shaft I41, but which may be caused to be locked therewith upon release of a normally disengaged clutch bolt I68, presently described, that is carried by a clutch wheel IBE-keyed on the shaft I41, as noted in Fig. 11. The timed rotation of the cam shaft has twopurposes: first, to'momentarily shift the grippers from normal position, as in Fig. 29, to a position as in Fig.32, for purposes presently understoodj and, second, to actuate devices whereby the severed secondary end of the wire strand, that is released from the band after the knotting operation; will be carried downward from the upper gripper and laid again within the twister gear slot and applied to the primary or lower gripper, to be held by the latter as a primary end for the next binding operation.

The clutch mechanism whereby this driving connection with shaft I41 is made and released, is'shown in Figs. 1, l1 and 12, and it comprises the sprocket wheel I64 which normally rotates freely on the cam shaft, and the clutch wheel I65 that is keyed to the shaft adjacent the sprocket wheel. The sprocket wheel has four equally spaced, projecting lugs I66 on that side next to wheel I65 and mounted in a bearing I61 on the wheel, is the sliding clutch bolt I68. A spring I69, see- Fig. 11, contained in the bearing,

acts against the bolt to. urge it to an extended position. Upon being extended, the outer end of the bolt 'will be engaged with one of the lugs I66 to thereby effect a driving connection be- The clutch bolt is operated under control of parts now to be explained.

Formedin theclutch wheel 1651s an encircling groove I10 in which one end of a clutch bolt release lever H1 is normally contained, as in Fig. 12. This lever is pivoted at I1I' on a bracket I12 fixed upon the table I46 and extends downwardly, as best seen in Fig. 1, and at its lower end, is connected by a link I13 with the sliding core bar I14 of a solenoid I14 that is fixed on-the back side of plate 1'5.

' Coil springs I15 and HM, shown in Fig. 1, are attached to the frame and to the lever I1I to pull it to such position that its upper end portion will normally be yieldingly retained in the groove I18 of the clutch wheel I65, as noted in Fig. 12. The clutch bolt I68 has a pin I16 fixed therein thatextends into the Wheel channel, see Fig. 11, in positioin that as the wheel rotates, this pin will engage against a beveled end surface I11 of the lever to cause the bolt to be shifted against the pressure of spring I69 and released from engagement with the lug I66 on the sprocket wheel. This stops rotation of shaft I41. When the solenoid I14 is energized, it operates to rock the lever I1-I in a manner such as to swing its upper end from contact with the clutch bolt pin so that the clutch bolt, under pressure of the spring, will be actuated into contact with the sprocket wheel to effect the driving connection. This clutch mechanism provides that upon release of the clutch bolt and its engagement with the sprocket wheel lug, the shaft I41 will be driven. through one complete rotation only, then stopped. This is by reason of the solenoid I14 being only momentarily energized. This stopping is by reason of the pin I15 again contacting the end of the release lever and riding therealong to effect retraction of the bolt.

Before, describing in detail the devices for effecting the actuation of the grippers GI and G2 for the cutting of the wire strand at opposite sides of the knot, and the traveling, gripper head G3 for reapplying the end of the cut strand to the primary gripper after a binding and strand cutting operation, the band laying or training operation will be explained in order that a better understanding of the later operations may be, had. This explanation will be best understood by reference to Figs. 24 to 33 inclusive.

First, it will be explained that the wire strand as extended from the ring (see Fig. 1) is passed over a supporting latch bar I 18 that is supported from plate 15, as shown in Fig. 15, and thus the wire is held above the bundle passage out of the way of anadva-ncing bundle. This latch bar extends horizontally across the open space 16 between plates GI and 15 and it is pivotally secured by a pivot I19 to a plate I that is fixed to plate 15. The latch bar is formed with" an arcuate head It I at one end and this has a notch I82 in its top edge into which a hook I83 pivoted on plate-18', may drop to hold the latch bar normally extended across the space 16. A solenoid- I85- is mounted on the plate I80 above the-hook and this has its core bar operatively connected by a link I86 with the hook so that upon energization of the solenoid, the hook willbe lifted and the latch will be released, and the wire strand as supported thereon under tension,

11 will be freed and permitted to be tightened across the top of the positioned bundle. A coil spring I89, attached to plate I80 and to the latch head, restores the bar I18 to functional position immediately upon deenergization of the solenoid.

Assuming that the wire strand has been extended from the supply over the various tension applying sheaves shown in Fig. l, and through the tubular guides carried on the ring as in Fig. 10, it is then carried to the left, as in Figs. 1 and 24, over the latch bar I18, thence downwardly and is manually laid in the slot of the twister gear, then facing away from the bundle, and is secured between the jaws of the lower gripper GI. At this particular time, the gripper G2 is extended and the gripper GI is inwardly disposed from alinement with the twister gear, as shown in Fig. 29, and in this manual initial threading of the wire, the primary end portion is laid back of both the then extended upper gripper G2 and the wire replacing gripper G3, which presently will be fully described. The primary end of the wire, and the grippers are at this time in the relationship shown in Figs. 24 and 29, and the machineis ready to start upon the placing of a bundle in position.

With the wire so placed, the machine is then set in motion by energizing the ring driving motor I2, this being accomplished by depressing a foot pedal I95 that is pivoted on a bracket I95 in the base frame structure, as seen in Fig. I, and which pedal has a lateral flange I96 adapted to engage and actuate a starting switch I91 that is electrically connected to the motor through a control switch I98, as shown in the diagram of Fig. 34.

When the motor I2 is energized, the ring 8, then positioned as in Figs. 1 and 24, is set in motion, turning clockwise, thus first training the strand of wire and held at its primary end in gripper GI and supported by latch bar I18, across the top of the bundle. The strand will be supported above the bundle by the latch bar I18 until the wire reevin guides on the ring have reached the position indicated in Fig. 25. At this time the cam runner 60 is actuating the bolt 53 at the right hand side of the machine as shown in Fig. I, toward its outer limit for passage of the strand of wire past the bolt, and as the bolt moves outwardly, a lug 200 fixed there on engages an actuating lever 20I of a control switch 202 fixed to the yoke. The switch 202 is electrically connected through a source of electrical energy, with the solenoid I85 that, upon being momentarily energized, releases the wire supporting latch bar I18 and the wire strand snaps therefrom, and being under tension, it snaps against and tightens across'the top of the package. The direction of pull on the wire strand then becomes such as to urge the package against the supporting rollers and against plates 4| .and I5. Thus the necessity for a clamp mechanism for this purpose is eliminated.

As the ring 8 continues to rotate, through positions shown in Figs. and 26, it trains the wire across the ri ht side of the package, then across the bottom, then carries it upwardly across the left side, and in this latter arc of travel, it lays the strand into the open jaws of the gripper G2 and again in the slot of the twister gear and also into gripper G3. The ring is automatically stopped in its rotation by de-energizing the driving motor I2 when the ring has again approximately reached the starting position, and has 12 again laid the wire strand across the latch bolt I18, as indicated in Fig. 26.

The means for de-energizing the motor I2 comprises the parts shown in Figs. 2 and 20 to 23 wherein 205 designates a horizontal shaft that is revolubly mounted in bearings 206-201 extended from a vertical plate 208 that is aifixed to and extends perpendicularly from the yoke. Fixed on the shaft 205 is an eight-toothed ratchet wheel 209, see Fig. 22, adapted to be operatively engaged by a one-way spring-pressed latch 2I0 that is pivotally mounted, by a pivot stud 2, on the ring 8. Also, fixed on the shaft 205 is an eight-point star wheel 2I2, see Fig. 23, that is so located that, as advanced intermittently by the shaft in accordance with the rotational advance movements of the ratchet wheel, it will engage a switch lever 2I6 of stop switch 2I'I. Also fixed on the shaft 205 is an indexing wheel 2I3 with eight equally spaced notches 2I8 in which a roller 2I9 on a spring-loaded arm 220 may be seated to retain the shaft yieldingly at the positions to which it is advanced by the latch 2I0 in engaging and passing the ratchet 209. The arrangement of these parts is such that with the turning of the ring 8, the latch 2I0 will, near the end of a bindin operation, engage the ratchet wheel 209 and thus rotatably advance shaft 205 one-eighth of a turn. This causes a point of the star wheel 2I2 to actuate the switch lever 2| 6 to open the switch 2H and thus to open the circuit to the driving motor I2 and stop the turning of the ring. A friction brake mechanism shown at 222 in Fig. 2, retains the wheel against reverse rotation under tension of the wire. The arcuate shoe 222 is pivotally mounted on parallel arms 223 which are in turn pivotally mounted on frame 6. A spring 224 holds the shoe against the belts I4 to function as a one way brake permittin normal counterclockwise rotation of the strand laying ring 8 but preventing its reverse rotation.

Coincident with the de-energization of motor I2 by the actuation of switch 2II, the latch releasing solenoid I05 and the motor are energized; this also being effected by the same action of switch-2|! that stopped motor I2. The energized motor 90 operates through the gear train shown in Fig. 4, to rotate the twister gear to form the knot as has been previously explained.

' During the final turn of the gear T in the formation of this twisted knot, the wire strand is cut at opposite sides of the knot, thus to release the bound bundle for removal from the machine. The wire cutting operation is effected by the means now to be described, reference being directed'particularly to Figs. 8 and 11.

Mounted on the gear wheel 86 is acam roller 230, located at such position thereon that as the gear wheel 86 approaches its limit of turning as determined by lever arm 96 and stops 91, it will functionally engage, as understood, with the outer end portion of a cam lever arm 23I that has its inner end pivotally aflixed to a lug 233 on the plate I5 by a pivot bolt 232. This lever has one end of a push bar 234 pivotally attached thereto, as at 235, the other end of which is pivotally engaged against a keeper block 236 on the lever arm I35 of rocker lever I32. When the lever 23I is thus actuated outwardly by the contact therewith of cam roller 230, it causes the push bar 234 to be shifted accordingly and by, its engagement with the block 236 to bodily shift the rocker lever outwardly; this being permitted by reason of the rocker lever being provided with the'longitudinal 

